📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Clemenspool
Technology
Robots Perform Aarti in Tamil Nadu’s Ayudha Puja, Showcasing AI in Rituals
✍️ India Today
🗓 20 Oct 2026, 04:45 AM
👁 14
During Tamil Nadu’s Ayudha Puja, robots were deployed to conduct the aarti and light incense, marking a novel blend of tradition and artificial intelligence.
Tamil Nadu celebrated Ayudha Puja this week with a technological twist: autonomous robots performed the traditional aarti and lit incense sticks in a public ceremony. The robots, programmed with motion‑control algorithms, mimicked the gestures of priests, moving in synchrony to the devotional chants.
The demonstration was organised by a local tech consortium aiming to showcase how artificial intelligence can be integrated into cultural practices without altering their core symbolism. Engineers highlighted that the machines were equipped with sensors to ensure safe handling of incense and to maintain the sanctity of the ritual.
Observers noted the novelty of the display, describing it as a glimpse into how heritage events might evolve with emerging technologies. While the robots did not replace human priests, the experiment underscored the potential for AI‑driven tools to assist in ceremonial logistics and outreach.
The demonstration was organised by a local tech consortium aiming to showcase how artificial intelligence can be integrated into cultural practices without altering their core symbolism. Engineers highlighted that the machines were equipped with sensors to ensure safe handling of incense and to maintain the sanctity of the ritual.
Observers noted the novelty of the display, describing it as a glimpse into how heritage events might evolve with emerging technologies. While the robots did not replace human priests, the experiment underscored the potential for AI‑driven tools to assist in ceremonial logistics and outreach.